GM to offer a refined version of the Buick LaCrosse this summer

Mar. 25, 2013

The 2014 Buick LaCrosse 3.6-liter V6. GM has sold more than 500,000 LaCrosses worldwide since it was released in 2009. The vehicle marks the debut of an improved version of Buick IntelliLink. / General Motors

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Detroit Free Press Business Writer

General Motors will offer a refined version of the Buick LaCrosse this summer, featuring new front and rear styling tweaks and an improved infotainment system.

The 2014 LaCrosse is to debut Wednesday at the New York auto show, and will reach showrooms in the U.S. and China this summer.

The full-size sedan, built at GM's assembly plant in Fairfax, Kan., competes against the Acura TL, Lexus ES350 and Lincoln MKZ.

The LaCrosse improvements include: wing-shaped light-emitting diode (LED) daytime lamps and wrap-around tail lights, a new luxury package and such new safety features as blind-zone alert, lane-departure warning and forward-collision alert.

"We evolved the interior and exterior design, increased luxury amenities and materials, and enhanced the safety and personal technologies to give customers more reasons than ever to rediscover Buick," said Tony DiSalle, U.S. vice president of Buick marketing, in a statement.

The vehicle also marks the debut of an improved version of Buick IntelliLink, the brand's 8-inch touch-screen infotainment system, which allows drivers to play music, program turn-by-turn navigation and monitor weather reports.

The new system allows drivers to type addresses on a single line, instead of entering street names, numbers and ZIP codes in separate boxes, making the process more like the popular Google Maps application.

LaCrosse sales in the U.S. fell 2.4% in 2012 to 57,076, and are down 30% in the first two months of 2013.

But the car might be more important for GM in China, where Buick last year sold nearly four times as many vehicles as it did in the U.S.

GM has sold more than 500,000 LaCrosses worldwide since it was released in 2009.

The 2014 LaCrosse has two powertrain options: a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and a 3.6-liter six-cylinder. The 2.4-liter option features Buick's eAssist technology, a mild-hybrid system with regenerative braking. Both engines have continuously variable valve timing and direct injection.